Airline opens first-class loo to economy passengers

March 2, 2007 — 9.17pm

There's one seat in first class that American Airlines is opening to economy passengers - the toilet.

Coach passengers can now use the front lavatory on American once again after the airline restricted its use to first-class fliers. The change applies to domestic flights and to international flights leaving the US, said American spokesman John Hotard.

Under a rule added following the September 11, 2001, attacks, only first-class passengers could use that section's lavatory on flights en route to the United States. American decided to apply the rule to all flights, Hotard said.

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The airline was the only carrier with such a rule on all flights, so it opted to change the policy, Hotard said.

The change was announced in a memo to flight crews that was obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Under Transportation Security Administration rules, passengers flying into the United States still have to use lavatories in their respective cabins.

A Boeing 757 has two lavatories in first class, which has 22 seats. Two are in economy class, which has up to 160 passengers.